Millard, Bill

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The Peter Nelson-trained Bestwitch, winner of the Knowle Apprentice Nursery at Birmingham on 31 October 1960, was ably handled by the stable’s 19-year-old apprentice Bill Millard. 

Bill and his parents went to South Africa in 1956, where he became apprenticed to owner-trainer Theo de Klerk, for whom he rode nine winners. 

Later, Bill returned to Wales with his father and mother and began working for Major Nelson.

Bestwitch was his eleventh ride in this country, and his first win here. 

After finishing his apprenticeship, Bill continued working for Major Nelson at Kingsdown. Then, at some point, he left to work for Colonel Peter Payne-Gallwey (see below) at the Old Manor Stables in (roughly) 1969-70.

Not long after starting work for Payne-Gallwey, Bill broke his leg playing football for the stable lads' team.

Once fit and back at work, Bill - as travelling head lad - took some stable runners to Warwick where a horse - belonging to another trainer - got loose in the car park and entangled in some equipment used for track maintenance.

Bill went to help, but unfortunately slipped on the gravel and broke the same leg again. He'd only been back at work a week.

He had been at the yard for just under two years when Peter Payne-Gallwey was diagnosed with cancer. Bill returned to Kingsdown to work for Major Nelson again where became involved with Derby winner Snow Knight.

Below is a photo of Bill (kindly sent to Jockeypedia by Don Byrne of Retro-Horse-Racing) showing him (on the right) accompanying Snow Knight to the winner's enclosure at Epsom after the 1974 Derby

Lt-Col Peter-Payne Gallwey DSO

Peter Payne-Gallwey leads the field on Derelict, 5 February, 1934, at Warwick

I am indebted to Don Byrne for sending the above photos 

and for the following information on Peter Payne-Gallwey